Cubs' pitching coach Larry Rothschild will be patient with Wood

CHICAGO (AP) -- Kerry Wood is about to return to the Chicago Cubs' rotation, and pitching coach Larry Rothschild is preaching patience.
Rothschild is dialing back expectations for Wood ahead of his first start of the season on Thursday in the series finale against the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field.
Wood is coming back from arthroscopic shoulder surgery and will be making his first start since July 20.
"It's not that he's going to walk out there and be the Kerry Wood you saw in '03 right now," Rothschild said. "I think he's close to that. We're going to have to watch him the first couple weeks, first month or so, coming back."
But Rothschild said the 29-year-old fireballer is not turning into a soft-tosser or a crafty veteran just yet.
"You're going to see a guy who likes to strike people out and likes to throw the ball and I don't think that's going to change with Kerry," Rothschild said. "I hope we see some velocity and the slider the way it's been before the injuries occurred. And that's been the reports so far."
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